A new report finds that buses are key to achieving 46 policy goals in 12 of the 24 departments across Whitehall

A new comprehensive report finds that buses are key to achieving 46 policy goals in 12 of the 24 departments across Whitehall. . They include the Department for Work and Pensions, HM Treasury, Department of Health, Department for Education, and Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The report, by PTEG, calls for a new dedicated ‘Connectivity Fund’ for bus services. The fund would absorb existing BSOG, plus a further £500m to reflect the cross-departmental benefits of supporting bus services and reflect the sum lost to bus services outside London since 2010. The report says that the way in which bus services are funded is mired in complexity with no oversight within Whitehall of how the various funding from different Government departments impact on bus services overall. The report also shows that all forms of funding for bus services are under severe pressure – i...